The Pepsi Center will be hosting an East-West matchup as the New York Islanders take on the Colorado Avalanche. It’s the final time that the two clubs will meet in the regular season. Altitude Sports & Entertainment will broadcast the action, which gets going at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, December 31.
New York Islanders vs. Colorado Avalanche Odds
New York (-105) is currently the underdog to New York (-115) and the oddsmakers have put the Over/Under (O/U) at an even 6 goals. The odds for betting the total stand at -110 money on the over and -110 on the under.
New York is 20-18 straight up (SU) and has earned 0.7 units for moneyline bettors this season. 25 of its matches have gone over the total, while 11 have gone under and just two have pushed. As the away team this season, the Isles are 8-12 SU.
New York has converted on 21.7 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that places them in the top-10 among NHL teams. Its penalty kill is ranked 30th in the league, and it has successfully killed off only 74.8 percent of all penalties.
For the team as a whole, New York has been penalized just 3.5 times per game overall in the 2017-18 season, 3.2 per game over its past five total, and 3.6 per game over its last five road outings. The team has been forced to stave off opponent power plays just 6.8 minutes per game over their last 10 outings.
With a .907 save percentage and 27.7 saves per game, Jaroslav Halak (11-12-2) has been the top option in goal for New York this season. If New York decides to rest him, however, head coach Doug Weight could roll with Thomas Greiss (9-9-2 record, .883 save percentage, 3.83 goals against average).
The visiting Islanders have relied on John Tavares and Josh Bailey this season. Tavares (49 points) has tallied 21 goals and 28 assists, and has recorded two or more points 15 times. Bailey has 11 goals and 38 assists to his credit (and has logged a point in 26 games).
On the other bench, Colorado is 18-19 straight up (SU) and has earned moneyline bettors 2.1 units this year. 22 of its contests have gone over the total, while 14 have gone under and just one has pushed. This year, the teams 11-8 SU at home.
Colorado has converted on 19.1 percent of its power play opportunities this year, a mark that’s right around league average. On the other hand, its penalty kill is ranked sixth overall, and it’s successfully killed off 83.6 percent of all penalties.
Colorado skaters have been penalized 4.3 times per game in total this season, and 3.0 per game over their last five at home. The team has had to stave off opponent power plays just 8.2 minutes per game over their last five home outings.
Semyon Varlamov has stopped 28.8 shots per game as the top netminder in goal for Colorado. Varlamov has 13 wins, 12 losses, and two overtime losses and has recorded a pedestrian 2.94 goals against average and a poor .909 save percentage this season.
Nathan MacKinnon (16 goals, 27 assists) will pace the attack for the Avs.
New York Islanders at Colorado Avalanche Betting Picks
Predictions: SU Winner – Avalanche, O/U – Over
Betting Notes
- The over has hit in three of New York’s last five games.
- The Avalanche are 4-10 SU in games where they serve more penalty minutes than their opponent while the Islanders are 7-4 SU when they serve more minutes than the opposition.
- Colorado is 1-1 in games decided by a shootout this season while New York is 2-1 in shootouts.
- Colorado is ranked 17th with 7.3 takeaways per game. That figures trended lower lately, however, as the team has created 5.7 takeaways over its last 10 games and 5.0 takeaways over its last five.
- New York is ranked 26th in the league this season with 6.2 takeaways per game. That figure has trended lower, however, as the team has created 5.7 takeaways over its last 10 games and 5.6 takeaways over its last five.
